TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Re: Electric Powerlines to be Used For Broadband

Re: Electric Powerlines to be Used For Broadband

Jim Haynes (haynes@alumni.uark.edu)
Thu, 29 Sep 2005 22:24:57 GMT

In article <telecom24.444.7@telecom-digest.org>,
<hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote:

> Well, now they are working to use power lines to bring in broadband
> service, so consumers will eventually have a third independent choice
> of communications providers.

Have you been hiding under a rock? This activity has been hotly
debated for a couple of years at least.

The fact is that power lines are not designed to conduct high
frequency signals, so they work more as antennas than as conductors.
The result of broadband over power lines (BPL) is to create a high
level of pollution of the high frequency radio spectrum. Radio
amateurs have made the most noise about this, since they stand to lose
the use of the HF spectrum; but shortwave radio listeners and business
and government users of the spectrum are also complaining. The FCC
seems to be taking a position that it is OK to foster the growth of a
new business rather than to protect the existing radio users. Field
trials have been done here and there and have shown that the radio
interference potential of this activity is serious. There is also the
possibility that nearby radio transmitters will disrupt operation of
the BPL system.

It's not something you want to invest your savings in.

jhhaynes at earthlink dot net

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